John Gear

John Gear

Serving consumers, elders, employees and nonprofits since 2010
  • Consumer Law, Employment Law, Elder Law ...
  • Oregon
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Biography

About 80% of my practice is helping wronged consumers recover from businesses that have cheated them. The rest is a mix of end-of-life and estate planning for elders, wage and hour claims for employees, and advising or serving nonprofits as outside counsel or in providing nonprofit boards with training to avoid problems. I don't stray outside those basic areas much -- for example, I don't take personal injury cases, car crashes, or any family or criminal law cases. But if the problem is otherwise within Oregon civil law, I'm happy to be consulted and to help out or provide referrals. At this point in my practice, the bulk of my cases come from referrals, which I greatly value. As an engineer before becoming an attorney, I learned to use a frugal problem-solving approach. In my practice, that means emphasis on solving the client's problem first, rather than defaulting to a given legal approach. If I can solve a client's issue with a letter instead of a lawsuit, I'm happy to do that.

Education
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
J.D. (2004) | Law
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Awards as top student in: Ethics/Professional Responsibility; Remedies; Products Liability; Election Law; State Admin Law; Federal Admin Law; Trial Workshop; Law Practice; Law Office Management.
Honors: Graduated magna cum laude, ranked 2nd of 120 in class. Earned 10 top student awards.
Activities: Certificate in administrative law; national trial team competition.
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Logo
Washington State University - Tri-Cities campus
M.S. | Engineering Management
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University of Wisconsin - Madison
B.S. | Nuclear Engineering
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Honors: Distinguished Scholars Program
University of Wisconsin - Madison Logo
Professional Experience
Managing Attorney
John Gear Law Office
- Current
Values based Oregon law practice serving Consumers, Elders, Employees and Nonprofits
Regulatory Affairs Attorney
Michigan Public Service Commission
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Research Attorney
Michigan Court of Appeals
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Principal
Catalyst Consulting Services
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Principal Engineer
Westinghouse Hanford Company
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Submarine Officer, USS Omaha (SSN-692)
US Navy
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Publications
Speaking Engagements
Hard Talks: Overcoming self-defeating client attitudes and behavior in consumer protection cases, Protecting Older Consumers, Oregon State Bar, Tigard
Oregon State Bar Consumer Law Section
Continuing legal education presentation to Oregon attorneys for how to help older consumers who have been ripped off.
Awards
Lawyer of the Year
Marion-Polk Volunteer Lawyers Program
Awarded for work through the Marion-Polk Legal Aid Service's "ELVIS" (Elder Law Volunteers in Service) clinic, where I remain as an active volunteer.
Professional Associations
Founder, Nonprofit Organizations Law Section of Oregon State Bar
Founder & Executive Committee Member
- Current
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National Association of Consumer Advocates
member
- Current
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Marion County Bar Association
member
- Current
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Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
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Oregon State Bar Elder Law Section
member
- Current
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Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Affiliate Member
- Current
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National Lawyers Guild
member
- Current
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Consumer Law Section, Oregon State Bar
Executive Committee Member
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Michigan
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Oregon
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Fees
  • Contingent Fees
    I do not generally provide free consultations; however, if I accept your case on contingency, the consultation fee is used as a deposit toward case costs retainer. Most consults are $280 (1 hour).
Practice Areas
Consumer Law
Class Action, Lemon Law
Employment Law
Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Elder Law
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Probate
Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
Foreclosure Defense
Municipal Law
Arbitration & Mediation
Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
Additional Practice Areas
  • Lemon Law
  • Public Benefits
Websites & Blogs
Blog
Law for Real People blog
Contact & Map
Security Building 161 High Street SE
Salem, OR 97301
Telephone: (503) 569-7777
Fax: (503) 206-0924
Main Office
161 High St SE, STE 208B
Salem, OR 97301-3610
Telephone: (503) 569-7777
Fax: (503) 206-0924